DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A PARABOLIC REFLECTOR-ASSISTED HYBRID SOLAR THERMAL UNIT FOR STEAM-BASED POWER GENERATION WITH INTEGRATED IOT CONTROL

Abstract

The growing demand for clean energy has driven advances in solar power. While solar systems are common, they can be inefficient in remote areas due to inconsistent sunlight and alignment issues. This project introduces a hybrid solar-thermal power generation system that combines photovoltaic (PV) and thermal energy technologies with Internet of Things (IoT) features for better monitoring and control. The system uses a solar panel to convert sunlight into DC electricity, regulated by a charge controller and stored in a battery. A buck converter adjusts the voltage to power sensors and microcontrollers. To capture more solar energy, a dual Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)-based sun tracking system, controlled by an Arduino Nano and MG995 servo motor, keeps the panel oriented toward the sun. A parabolic reflector focuses solar energy onto a steam generation chamber, where water, pumped through copper pipes, is heated to produce steam. The water flow is managed by an automated system using a BC547 transistor and an ESP-32 microcontroller. The steam drives a micro-turbine to generate additional electrical power, which is monitored and stored by the ESP-32. Temperature sensors collect thermal data, and an inverter converts the stored 12V DC power to 220V AC for household use. The system is connected to the Blynk IoT platform for remote monitoring and control of power generation and load management via smartphone. The system’s performance results show a thermal efficiency of 40%, electrical efficiency of 3.33% per hour, and an overall efficiency of 23.42%, combining both thermal and electrical performance. This hybrid system offers an efficient, sustainable solution for decentralized energy, especially in remote or off grid areas. The IoT integration with real-time sun tracking enhances energy capture and conversion, making it a significant improvement in solar-thermal hybrid energy systems.